🌱 CPS & New 'Swatting' Law + Cincinnati NFL Game Canceled

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Here are the top three stories in Cincinnati today:

1. A new law in Ohio, House Bill 462, is cracking down on swatting, which occurs when someone makes a false report of a serious threat. Under the new law, anyone who makes false or misleading reports can be found guilty of a fourth-degree felony and could face up to 18 months in prison. Winton Woods City Schools and other Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) have recently been victims of swatting. In a statement, CPS said the district hopes "Ohio's new Swatting law will deter students or adults from issuing false threats against any school district." (WCPO)
2. On Jan. 5, the league announced that the postponed NFL regular season game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals has been canceled. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said, "I recognize that there is no perfect solution. The proposal we are asking the ownership to consider, however, addresses the most significant potential equitable issues created by the difficult, but necessary, decision not to play the game under these extraordinary circumstances." (CGTN)
3. In the first 48 hours sports betting was open for business in Ohio, 11.3 million geolocation transactions were recorded, which is the highest of any state in the country. According to data released by GeoComply, Cincinnati recorded the most sports betting transactions of all the Ohio cities. More than 1.8 million transactions were made in Cincinnati, more than Columbus and Cleveland combined. (Gaming Today)

Today in Cincinnati:

• Sharonville Gun Show At Sharonville Convention Center (9:00 AM)
• PNC Festival Of Lights At Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (10:00 AM)
• Auditions For Clue The Musical And Footloose At Madcap Education Center (1:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Did you know the average Ohio resident’s average monthly electric bill in 2022 increased by over 8 percent from the previous year? Learn more about where the Buckeye State stands on power consumption and costs compared to the rest of the country in this new Ownerly data study. (Ownerly)
• Yesterday, Jan. 6, Hamilton County Commissioners got a sneak peek of the new 513Relief Bus! Stay tuned here for information on the 2023 unveiling and tour schedule later this month. (Hamilton County OH via Twitter)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door this Saturday! I'll see you around.

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.